§ Lord Rees-Moggasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there have been delays in The Wrekin and, in particular, Albrighton between the decision to cull healthy sheep and their being culled; and, if so, what is the cause of such delays. [HL1631]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)Animals were slaughtered on an infected farm in Wellington on 24 March, and on adjacent premises by 30 March, as part of the Government's contiguous slaughter policy to remove susceptible animals exposed to the risk of infection. The delay was due to pressure on staff resources in that area at that time.
§ The Earl of Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the risk of foot and mouth contamination from a dead carcass; and how long it lasts. [HL1688]
§ Baroness HaymanThe Government's view that carcasses do not pose a major risk of spreading foot and mouth disease is based on advice from the World Reference Laboratory for Foot and Mouth Disease at Pirbright and the Environment Agency. The Government are also advised on disease control strategies by their Chief Veterinary Officer and their expert scientific group. Experimental studies have shown that the release of the foot and mouth disease virus from infected animals is greatly reduced after death. This is why it is so important to identify and slaughter infected animals as quickly as possible.
The risk from carcasses is greatly reduced as a result of the procedures followed after slaughter. Carcasses are sprayed with an approved disinfectant which has been shown to be highly effective in destroying any virus on the outside of the animal. Approximately 24 hours after slaughter, rigor mortis sets in, whereby lactic acid accumulates and inactivates virus in the muscles. Virus in other internal organs will be inactivated by the processes of decomposition and is, in any case, situated internally. Before burning, the operations team is instructed to spray the pyre with additional disinfectant to reduce any risk of infection spreading at this stage. The virus is then inactivated at temperatures above 50 degrees centigrade. There may be a small thermo-resistant element of the virus which is also destroyed at 70 degrees, but expert opinion is that this is likely to be insignificant in the possible spread of infection from pyres.
The Earl Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
Who authorises the decision to excavate burial pits for stock affected by foot and mouth disease; and who authorises their emptying. [HL2024]
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§ Baroness HaymanOn the rare occasions when it is necessary to exhume buried carcasses, the decision will normally be taken by the relevant regional operations director in the light of advice from the Environment Agency and the local environmental health and public health authorities.
The Earl Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
Given that vast areas of traditionally stock-carrying country of Scotland, England and Wales have been cleared of all stock, how they plan to target help to these areas in particular. [HL2094]
§ Baroness HaymanWe are in discussion with the devolved administrations and the farming unions about a longer-term recovery plan for the farming sector, especially the livestock sector. We shall focus in particular on farmers directly affected by foot and mouth disease who face choices about their futures, and on those regions of the UK hardest hit by the disease.
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government>:
In which counties in the United Kingdom there have been confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease this year, indicating in respect of each county the date of the first and most recent case. [HL1717]
§ Baroness HaymanThe information requested, as at 7 May 2001, is set out in the table given.
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Number of cases Date of case first most recent Anglesey 13 27/2 25/3 Berkshire 2 7/3 14/3 Borders 8 28/3 25/4 Cheshire 11 14/3 10/4 Co Durham 83 27/2 3/5 Cornwall 4 2/3 6/4 Cumbria 681 28/2 7/5 Derbyshire 8 7/3 27/3 Devon 163 24/2 3/5 Dumfries & Galloway 173 1/3 4/5 Essex 11 20/2 12/4 Glamorgan 3 8/4 25/4 Gloucestershire 78 11/3 17/4 Herefordshire 42 26/2 25/4 Kent 5 10/3 2/4 Lancashire 16 27/2 10/4 Leicestershire 4 28/2 23/4 Monmouthshire 21 17/3 28/4 Northamptonshire 1 27/3 27/3 Northumberland 55 23/2 4/5 North Yorkshire 23 7/3 1/5 Oxfordshire 2 3/3 15/3 Powys 42 28/2 27/3 Shropshire 11 17/3 21/4 Somerset 4 9/3 4/5 Staffordshire 47 2/3 9/4 Teeside 5 18/3 7/5 Tyne & Wear 7 26/2 27/3 Warwickshire 4 28/2 25/3 West Yorkshire 3 7/3 23/3 Wiltshire 7 26/2 10/4 Worcestershire 24 2/3 12/4
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will set up a public inquiry into the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and if so, what form such an inquiry will take. [HL1719]
§ Baroness HaymanThe Government are determined to learn whatever lessons they can from the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease. This process has already begun. Following a consultation exercise, my right honourable friend the Minister announced on 3 May a ban on the swill feeding of catering waste to livestock. A consultation exercise on a proposed 20-day standstill period for sheep, goats and cattle following movement will end on 11 June. We will also be examining all of the longer-term issues surrounding reform of the common agricultural policy.
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their policy on transporting by road carcasses of animals slaughtered because they had been found to be suffering from foot and mouth disease; and what cases there have been of fluids or other parts from such animals leaking on to public highways during transit. [HL1993]
§ Baroness HaymanPublic and environmental safety are the Government's priorities in the battle against foot and mouth disease. To this end, there are strict instructions in place designed to maintain biosecurity at all times, and rigorous disinfectant procedures are carried out on all vehicles used for carrying carcasses.
Vehicles that enter non-infected areas are those of the highest structural integrity, but clear instructions on what to do in the unlikely event of accidents in transit are provided, including what to do about leaks and how to disinfect the area if one occurs.
There have, however, been a small number of cases where trucks have not been properly sealed. This is not satisfactory and we are taking steps to remind those involved in the transport of carcasses of the existing instructions. We are also seeking to ensure that those transporting carcasses have access to resources and equipment to permit emergency repairs in the event that any problem occurs, and know where to seek further help if necessary.
§ Baroness Nicolasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any information on the consignment of sheep that was exported to France in January and tested positive for foot and mouth. [HL2115]
Baronss HaymanA consignment of 402 sheep was certified for export to France on 31 January from premises in Wales. In early March the French authorities blood-tested 31 of the animals for fool: and mouth disease before slaughtering them and seven samples gave positive results. The French authorities have now confirmed that the samples that initially showed positive results have been subject to further testing with negative results. They have concluded that the earlier test results were false positives.
211WAThis explanation from the French authorities supports our view that, contrary to media reports, foot and mouth disease did not go undetected in sheep in Great Britain for up to two months prior to the disease being confirmed.